Outcomes and complications of exposed Kirschner wire f ixation for metacarpal fractures: a retrospective study

AIM: Metacarpal fractures are common hand injuries, frequently treated with closed reduction and internal fixation (CRIF) using Kirschner wires (K-wires). While exposed K-wires allow for simple hardware removal and early mobilization, their use is traditionally associated with a higher risk of pin tract infections. There is a lack of studies focusing exclusively on exposed K-wires in metacarpal fractures. METHODS: It was retrospectively reviewed 134 patients who underwent CRIF with exposed K-wires for metacarpal fractures between January 2023 and March 2024. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 118 patients were analyzed. Demographics, fracture characteristics, complications, and follow-up data were collected. Functional outcomes were assessed using the QuickDASH and the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) before hardware removal. RESULTS: Most patients were male, 88 (75%), with a mean age of 39.3 years. The little finger was the most frequently injured, 71 (60%). In 102 (86%) cases, a single metacarpal fracture was observed. The average number of wires used was 1.7, and hardware was removed after a mean of 40.1 days. The rate of pin tract infection was